Haunted Austin

October 23, 2017

By Travis Berry
(Photo credit: Texas Capitol Building)

Every city has places that are rumored to be haunted; places the not so brave of heart tend to steer clear of. With the spookiest month of the year upon us, now is the perfect time to visit a few of these haunted places in Austin. Tap into your inner ghost hunter, and see for yourself if they live up to their reputations or if they are just all hype, in what might be the spookiest Halloween season yet.

Texas State Capitol1100 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78701

Politics aren’t the scariest type of activity that goes on in Texas State Capitol; actual ghosts reportedly roam these halls. As you take in the architectural beauty that is found within and surrounding this domed building take some time to explore the more occult history associated with it. From the ghost of Robert Marshall Love, who was shot at his desk in 1903, who can still be seen pacing the halls, to the Lady in Red, who searches the halls for her lover, this place is chalk full of paranormal activity that will be sure to give you a killer time.

Oakwood Cemetery1601 Navasota St, Austin, TX 78702

No list would be complete without at least one cemetery because they scream haunted. The Oakwood Cemetery, the oldest city-owned cemetery in Austin is certainly not a place that is safe from the supernatural. Covering more than 40 acres, there have been hundreds of accounts of ghost sightings; there have even been actual ghost hunters who have reported encountering paranormal activity there. Grab some friends, possibly even a drink, and head over there in the wee hours of the night, when the real fun begins, but beware the cemetery closes at 7pm so enter at your own risk.

Austin Pizza Garden6266 W Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78735

The Austin Pizza Garden, a building with a very long history, is the next stop on our list. With the building first having been established in 1879 as a general store run by Texas Ranger James Andrew Patton, and then later becoming a post office, art gallery, and finally a national landmark in 1970, it comes to no surprise that there is some paranormal activity tied to this long-standing piece of history. Both employees and customers have reported strange happenings from an eerie presence to phantom footsteps, and even objects being mysteriously thrown onto the floor. We’ll take our paranormal activity with a slice pepperoni pizza any day of the week.

The Driskill Hotel604 Brazos St. Austin, TX 78701

What list of the spooky places in Austin is complete without probably the most haunted place here in Austin, the Driskill Hotel? Built in 1886, the hotel has quite a paranormal history surrounding it. Starting with the ghost of the Senator’s daughter who met her untimely death in 1887, who people have reported seeing her chase her ball around the halls. To the even more terrifying story of the two brides who offed themselves at two separate times (exactly 20 years apart) in the bathtub in room 525, who are said to still be felt there today. If you’re feeling extra brave you can stay in the exact room where it happened, and who knows you might be able to sense them still there with you, watching you as you sleep.